T H E M O N T H LY B U S I N E S S S E C T I O N F O R L I N N A N D B E N T O N C O U N T I E S A N D T H E M I D - W I L L A M E T T E VA L L E Y
www.democratherald.com/business • www.gazettetimes.com/business
JUNE 2012
Doug Eldon, left, makes a sale for Denison Farms at the Corvallis Farmers’ Market on June 20. NANCY RASKAUSKAS | MID-VALLEY INBUSINESS
‘Market’ research Farmers markets let growers sell direct, get to know customers By NANCY RASKAUSKAS
AREA FARMERS MARKETS
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ummer is officially here and a half-dozen outdoor farmers markets already are in full swing. A walk through the farmers market on a recent Wednesday morning at First Street in downtown Corvallis is a chance to peruse tables packed with colorful strawberries, raspberries and cherries; fill a basket with fresh vegetables; buy meats and eggs; or pick out a nursery plant or a fresh bouquet of flowers. It’s also an opportunity for customers to talk directly with the people behind the products they are buying. Farmers, their families, and trusted farmhands or neighbors staff each stall. Rebecca Landis, director of the Corvallis-Albany Farmers’ Markets, works with about 140 to 150 vendors each year. At a market, farmers pick up face-to-face information from their customers — what they like and don’t like — and what a customer asks for could show up at the next market or in that farmer’s crops the next year, according to Landis. “Our farmers know a lot more about their customers than wholesalers do,” Landis said. Vendors at the market field all manner of questions from a simple “what is this?” to in-depth queries about farm practices and philosophies. The market is also a good place for farmers to promote other types of farm-direct sales such as a community supported agriculture program (weekly boxes of fresh farm food delivered to a pre-paid client list), as well as roadside farm stands and restaurants, and U-pick destinations. “For new farms it might be the best way to get known in the community,” Landis added. But it’s not without risks. Getting into the farmers market means navigating membership fees, stall fees, applications, seniority and abiding by government regulations specific to individual products. And just because you have thousands of people walking by doesn’t mean you’re going to sell your product to enough of them, Landis said. “You’ve got to really admire the entrepreneur who can do this sort of work,” Landis said. “It’s about find-
Albany Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays, Fourth Avenue and Ellsworth Street (City Hall parking lot and adjacent courthouse block), Albany. Information: 541-740-1542 or www.locallygrown.org. Brownsville Saturday Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays, Main St., Brownsville. Information: 541-466-5709 or www.historicbrownsville.com. Corvallis Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturdays and Wednesdays, First Street and Jackson Avenue, Corvallis. Information: 541-740-1542 or www.locallygrown.org. Kings Valley-Wren Farmers and Artisans Market, noon to 4 p.m., Wren Community Hall, 35515 Kings Valley Highway. Information: 503-838-0244 or http://www.wrenditions.org. Lebanon Downtown Farmers Market, 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 18, parking lot, Grant and Main Street, Lebanon. Information: 541-760-9392. To learn more about the farms featured in this story, check out their websites: • Sweet Home Farms: www.sweethomefarms.com • Goodfoot Farm (in Kings Valley): www.goodfootfarm.com
PROVIDED BY NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE-OREGON
Beth Hoinacki of Goodfoot Farm demonstrates an indispensable cultivation tool on her farm — the wheelhoe. Hoinacki uses this tool as one of several methods for weed control on her certified organic farm operation. The timely use of the wheelhoe can conserve soil moisture by creating a “dust mulch” on the soil surface and helps manage weeds by slicing them just below the soil surface. ing the right person in your family to do it … someone who is extroverted or can put on their ‘game face.’” ●
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“We try to make eye-contact and acknowledge as many people as we can. We need people to stare at us just long enough to let it absorb. You definitely can’t be quiet and shy,” said Daniel “Dan” Polen, who worked at the Sweet Home Farms booth at the June 20 Wednesday market in Corvallis. Neighbor Ted Veeman, a fellow sheep farmer from the east side of the valley, sat atop a meat cooler chatting with Polen and customers. Sweet Home Farms is owned by Dan’s parents, Mike Polen and Carla Green. Dan’s older sister, Anna O’Malley, also works at the farm. Sweet Home Farms specializes in naturally raised meat and poultry, including beef, lamb, goat, pork and pasture-raised poultry and eggs. Due to their nature, Sweet Home’s wares stay in coolers until a customer stops by and makes a selection or picks up a preorder. SEE MARKETS | A6
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MID-VALLEY InBusiness
June 2012
Tour de farms
Agri-tourism allows city people to see where food originates By MARIA L. KIRKPATRICK gri-tourism has sprouted and is growing strong. Farm tourism, farm-to-table dinner parties, wine-pairing events, pick-your-own fruits and vegetables, and microbreweries are increasing in popularity as the public becomes more healthconscious and people want to reconnect with their food and drink. In response, the farming industry is sending people back to their roots. The result: Once-struggling small farms are finding additional sources of income. “It’s popular,” said Don Cersovski, president of the Linn County Farm Bureau. “People are going out to see flower fields and have dinner on pig farms and farmers are turning it into an event.” “So few people understand farm culture,” Cersovski said. “The farm community is re-educating people. Many people don’t have a clue where their food comes from.” The best way to educate is to make learning fun, and farmers are making a party of it, planning events such as dinner in the same fields where the food was grown. Tasting fruit, nuts and chocolate grown and produced onsite and meeting the farmer lends a face to the process. As a result, farmAMANDA COWAN | MID-VALLEY INBUSINESS ers markets are taking off Tyler Jones, owner of Afton Field Farm in Corvallis, pauses for a photo with a piglet in the doorand farmers are inviting way of his barn. people to visit. Farm-stay vacations are hotter than ever, said Farms in Corvallis. Scottie Jones of Leaping Farm to Fork is a Lamb Farm in Alsea. Portland-based company A farm stay is a vacation that puts on culinary More family farms are participating in public events to that includes pitching in events, complete with encourage visitors to become educated in where their food to help out on a working table linens and china, at and drink comes from. Here are just a few upcoming events: farm. farms around the state. ■ Oregon Hazelnut Country Wine Dinner, July 13 at Tyee Leaping Lamb is a 67Chef Eric Bechard of Wine Cellars. Tyee and artist-food writer Jan Robertsacre farm where visitors Thistle restaurant in Dominguez are doing the second annual Wine Dinner for Nuts. stay in a two-bedroom McMinnville will bring his Food will be from recipes printed in “Oregon Hazelnut Country cabin with full kitchen, culinary skills to Afton — The Food, The Drink, The Spirit” paired with Tyee Estate washer and dryer, deck for Field and prepare gourmet wines. Info: www.tyeewine.com. meals and relaxation, and dishes using farm-fresh ■ Ladies in the Fields Slow Food Dinner, Aug. 9 at Tyee Wine wireless access. The tradiCellars. Slow Food Corvallis is hosting a dinner event centered ingredients. tion of growing hay and around a collection of portraits, “Ladies in the Fields” by artist Afton Field owners corn, and a garden and Rebecca Waterhouse. Info: www.tyeewine.com. Tyler and Alicia Jones greenhouse full of produce ■ Bounty of Benton County, Sept. 1-3 at Benton County have hosted parties, dincontinues. Chickens, participating businesses. Info: http://bountyofbenton ners and even a wedding lambs, horses, geese, county.com. for friends but are looking turkeys and a colorful ■ Farm to Fork, Willamette Valley, Sept. 2 at Afton Field forward to this being their peacock roam freely Farm in Corvallis, featuring pastured protein from Afton Field first public event. Farm and wine from Tyee Wine Cellars. This event is part of around the property. “Most people don’t reThe Bounty of Benton County. Info: www.farmtoforkevents Midway Farms between member their farm his.com. Albany and Corvallis oftory,” Tyler said. “They’ve fers day camps. Children become disconnected ages 5 to 12 learn basic with their food source.” than 950 U.S.-based farm and grower-direct food. care for cows, ponies and Merrilee Buchanan BenMyhre is the director of stays. Most online comchickens as well as have Strengthening Rural Fam- son of Buchanan Family ments are supportive of the opportunity to get ilies in Philomath, a non- Century Farm and Beaver the farm-stay idea, howtheir hands dirty in the Creek Vineyards at Tyee profit organization that ever, it’s eye opening to garden, planting and har- read comments from a Wine Cellars in Corvallis allows rural families to vesting oris excited to see the return connect with each other few, including ganic foods. and provides resources to of popularity of small “we don’t Owner farming. need farmers improve their lives. Cynthia ‘It’s one thing Tyee wine will be “People feel they are because we Kapple said poured at the Willamette missing a connection with have grocery to see a cow, buying Valley Farm to Forks the land and to the place and farm-fresh it’s another thing stores,” event. where they live,” she said. others that foods al“This is much more to sit next to it are convinced “In the past, a vast majorlows people than a fad,” said Benson, a they couldn’t ity of Americans were and milk it. a certain fifth-generation farmer. connected directly with get past the confidence “It’s a movement.” Kids actually their food in some way. smell. of what “But, there Many families grew their get to see and they are own produce and meat are those eating and experience what people talking and dairy. It is a recent what they development that we’ve about how food should are feeding become disconnected they grew up their chiltaste like.’ with that.” on a farm and dren. She Myhre partly is responCYNTHIA KAPPLE remember loves that MIDWAY FARMS sible for launching The them as the more peoBounty of Benton County, best days of ple are getan annual event that their lives,” ting out and showcases rural busiJones said of her site. caring about what they “And there are other peo- nesses. Participants buy eat. ple saying they are so dis- “passports” to visit “It’s one thing to see a connected and never knew wineries, farms and groves cow, it’s another thing to to sample a variety of food there was anything like sit next to it and milk it,” or drink. that to do with their famshe said. “Kids actually Each year the event has ily.” get to see and experience “It’s picking up steam,” grown and this year it inwhat food should taste cludes a Farm to Fork said Andrea Myhre of the like.” dinner at Afton Field interest in family farms Media attention made farm vacations national news. A particular story mentioning Leaping Lamb hit Yahoo Finance and crashed the farm’s website. Farm & Ranch Living Magazine recently listed Leaping Lamb as one of the nation’s best spots for working farm vacations. Jones also is the owner of the website Farm Stay U.S., a database of more
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UPCOMING EVENTS
NANCY RASKAUSKAS/MID-VALLEY INBUSINESS
Dan Polen of Sweet Home Farms mans a booth at the Corvallis Farmers’ Market on June 20. The farm sells naturally raised meat and poultry.
Markets Continued from page A5 Detailed signage and Polen and Veeman’s friendly visage and willingness to discuss the farm’s humane animal husbandry and anything else that might cross a shopper’s mind is what brings in new customers. “Overall, it’s good. We couldn’t continue to grow in the way we are without the markets, because we need the exposure,” Polen said. In a typical week, Sweet Home Farms has stands at the Eugene, Corvallis, Albany, Southeast Portland and Oregon City farmers’ markets and also runs a CSA program. It’s a balancing act, because time at markets is time away from working the 83 deeded acres the family has owned for five years, as well as 400 more acres that are leased. As a result, Sweet Home Farms comes only to the first, third and fifth Wednesday markets each month in Corvallis, and encourages customers to pre-order by phone, email or Facebook. Sweet Home hasn’t been able to get into the Saturday market in Corvallis yet because of seniority, Polen said. “One advantage of the smaller markets is that there is less competition for what we do … that’s not to say we wouldn’t like to be in the big (Saturday) markets and compete with them,” he added. The family encourages customers to shop around and compare their product against others. “We want to know our customers. We want to know their names and whether they like fatty or lean beef,” Polen said. One downside of the farmers markets is that they can be totally unpredictable: “The weather can be beautiful and you don’t sell anything, while you can have a record day in the rain,” Polen said.
of land she manages with her husband, Adam Ryan, and the help of their kids Ella, 9, and Cole, 6. The family is busy prepping blueberry fields for picking and getting plants into the ground. The farm also grows fall storage crops such as potatoes, squash, onions and garlic and has sheep, chickens, geese and a farm horse. In addition to the local farmers markets, which they started attending last fall, the family sells blueberries through First Alternative Cooperative and all of its crops in bulk direct to customers. They plan to start coming to the Saturday Corvallis Farmers’ Market starting next Saturday and will continue through fall and to the indoor Winter Market. “We’re moving toward a diversified market farm,” Hoinacki said. “As we diversify the farm, we’re diversifying our clients.” Attending the farmers markets was an important step toward developing a CSA program next year, she said. “I think the hardest part of getting into the Corvallis market is the competitiveness, because of the limited number of spaces,” she said. “And, of course, it’s a challenge finding the timing to be off the farm.” Which stands sell and how much is as much about personality and presentation as anything, Hoinacki agreed. She loves talking recipes and cooking techniques with customers. “What you want to grow is a reflection of who you are,” Hoinacki said. “I love the aesthetics — putting your hard work on display. ... It’s really rewarding, that contact with customers.” On a good weekend, Goodfoot Farm can bring in about $500 at the mar● ● ● ket. As they expand, While some farmers $1,000 is the goal, she have been bringing prod- added. ucts to market since April, Hoinacki also works others are just gearing up. part-time as an agriculBeth Hoinacki was tural inspector. Her husreached via phone at band, Adam Ryan, works Goodfoot Farm at Hoskins at the Northwest Alliance in Kings Valley last week, for Computational Sciwhile hay-baling was in ence and Engineering at full swing on the 10 acres Oregon State University.
B US I N ES S DATA April 2012
May 2012 11.7
8.1 8.2
9.5
U.S.
8.5 8.4
6.6
5.7 5.9
Benton Co.
Oregon
10.6 10.7
Thousands
May 2011
9.0
Linn Co.
Source: Oregon Employment Department Note: Data are seasonally adjusted.
325 300 275 250 225 200 175 150 125
May 2012
Albany N. Albany Brownsville Corvallis
411 101 21 504
Units sold past year
May 2011
445 120 24 466
Average sales prices
May 2012
155,284 228,118 182,771 278,320
258,603 Benton County Linn County
191,847
May 2011
147,363
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Source: Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service
Average sales price
Independence Jefferson Lebanon Philomath Sweet Home
152,297 241,032 153,785 278,217
Edward Jones awards:
299,687
Mid-Valley Residential Report Units sold past year
MOVERS&SHAKERS
Residential Average Sales Price by Area
Unemployment Rate 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0
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MID-VALLEY InBusiness
June 2012
Units sold past year
Units sold past year
Average sales prices
Average sales price
May 2012
May 2011
May 2012
May 2011
67 51 282 80 136
46 52 299 75 133
152,041 192,933 136,018 241,325 125,959
222,824 192,575 142,491 239,092 112,451
Source: Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service
Corvallis MSA (Benton County) Nonfarm Payroll Employment Source: Oregon Employment Department
Change from April ‘12 May ’11 20 -60 20 -20 70 -10 10 -20 20 20 40 20 30 10 80 -350 40 10 30 -10 50 240 80 -60
Mining, logging and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Federal government State government Local government
May ’12 1,130 3,250 4,390 790 1,390 3,780 5,760 3,200 1,240 590 10,270 2,900
April ’12 1,110 3,230 4,320 780 1,370 3,740 5,730 3,120 1,200 560 10,220 2,820
May ’11 1,190 3,270 4,400 810 1,370 3,760 5,750 3,550 1,230 600 10,030 2,960
Total nonfarm payroll employment
38,690
38,200
38,920
May ’12
April ’12
May ’11
1,970 6,550 8,530 360 1,270 3,020 4,910 2,980 1,300 330 1,170 5,790
1,910 6,590 8,500 350 1,250 3,120 4,940 3,050 1,300 330 1,180 5,850
2,130 6,720 8,390 370 1,220 2,990 4,880 3,060 1,320 330 1,220 6,240
60 -40 30 10 20 -100 -30 -70 0 0 -10 -60
-160 -170 140 -10 50 30 30 -80 -20 0 -50 -450
38,180
38,370
38,870
-190
-690
Linn County Nonfarm Payroll Employment Source: Oregon Employment Department Mining, logging and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Federal government State government Local government Total nonfarm payroll employment
DAT E B O O K Monday through Wednesday: Tractor and Farm Machinery Safety, 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m., Room F-113, Forum building, Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W., Albany. First class session. For farm workers ages 14 to 18. Cost: $76.50, plus a $20 lab fee. Registration: 541-917-4840. Tuesday: Excel Formulas workshop, 9 a.m. to noon, Forum, room F-202, Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W., Albany. Cost: $79. Registration: LBCC Business and Employer Services, 541-917-4923. Tuesday: Brownsville Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Norm’s Electric, 279 Templeton Ave. at Highway 228. Food and beverages, business presentations, 50-50 raffle. Info: 541466-5566. Wednesday: Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Forum Luncheon. Speaker: Jim Asleson, executive director, MidWillamette Family YMCA. Time:
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Linn County Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road, Albany. Cost: $13 members; $20 guests. Info: 541-926-1517. Thursday through Saturday: Tractor and Farm Machinery Safety, 8:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m., Room F-113, Forum Building, Linn-Benton Community College, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W., Albany. Second class session. For farm workers ages 14 to 18. Cost: $76.50, plus a $20 lab fee. Registration: 541-9174840. Thursday: Albany Kiwanis Luncheon: “What’s New In Veterinary Medicine.” Speaker: Timothy Reid, owner, Reid Veterinary Clinic. Time: Noon, Pop’s Branding Iron Restaurant, 901 Pacific Blvd. S.E., Albany. Open to public. Info: 541-2231247. Thursday: Pink Days Kickoff, 6 to 8 p.m., Shonnard’s Nursery, Florist and Landscape, 6600 S.W. Philomath Blvd., Corvallis. Hors d’oeuvres, beverages, silent auction. Friday: Lebanon Area Cham-
ber of Commerce Forum Lunch. Speaker: Jim Willis, Veterans Administration. Time: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital Training Center, 525 N. Santiam Highway. Cost: $13. Info: 541258-7164. July 3 and 4: Red, White and Blue Riverfront Festival, downtown Corvallis. Live music, food and beverage vendors, craft booths, inflatables. Info: 541-754-6624 or joan@ downtowncorvallis.org. July 13: Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, 8 a.m. shotgun start, Mallard Creek Golf Course, 31966 Bellinger Scale Road, Lebanon. Cost: $500 per team. Info: 541-258-7164. July 18: Department of State Lands Unclaimed Property Reporting Seminar for businesses and organizations, 8:30 a.m. to noon, State Lands Building, Land Board Room, 775 Summer St. N.E., Salem. Free (registration required). Info: 503-986-5290 or www.oregonstatelands.us.
490
-230
Change from April ’12 May ’11
Jim Asleson will speak at luncheon Jim Asleson, executive director of the MidWillamette YMCA in Albany, will be the featured speaker at the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce forum luncheon for June. Asleson will speak on Wednesday at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road, Albany. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. Asleson has led the local Y since 1994. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, he had served with YMCAs in Colorado Springs, Portland and Charlotte, N.C., before joining the Albany organization.
Mid-Valley InBusiness
Edward Jones Financial Advisor Doug Phillips of Lebanon recently was presented with the “TNT Client Development Award” for outstanding service efforts over the past year and the firm’s Eagle Award for his efforts working toward client and business goals. The awards are presented annually to individuals across the country for their achievements. Phillips was one of only 738 to receive the TNT Client Development Award and one of 1,187 to earn the Eagle Award. Edward Jones has more than 12,000 financial advisors across the country.
Completes training: Michele Martin has recently completed the Metlife National PCS Sale School requirements. Martin works for Metlife from her office at 150 Calapooia St. S.W., Suite A2, in Albany. She can be reached at 541-905-3096.
Restaurant opens: Kirk’s Ferry Trading Post Restaurant is now open at 217 W. Bishop Way in Brownsville. The restaurant held a soft opening on June 15, and can be reached at 541-619-4941 or swordsandshields@hotmail.com. Festival directors: The Corvallis Fall Festival Board of Directors recently elected Nancy Raskauskas and Jennifer Lommers to the board. Raskauskas is an online marketing specialist for Oregon State University, a freelance journalist and a partNancy Jennifer time employee of Linn-Benton ComRaskauskas Lommers munity College’s community education program. Lommers is a local artist who created last year’s Fall Festival poster artwork. She travels throughout the western United States, selling her paintings at art fairs and festivals. They join board members George Abele, Mike Bergen, Deb Bynum, Joyce Canan, Gretchen Cuevas, Kelly Ensor, Barb Eveland, Inge King, Patty Lorenzen, Travis Oefelein, Steve Sparkes, Jeff Lesmeister and Shaun Hearn. The Corvallis Fall Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Dates of the event are Sept. 22 and 23.
Toastmaster officers: Corvallis Toastmasters Club No. 395 has elected new officers for the year July 2012 to July 2013. Officers are president Fred Hirsch, vice president of education Hans Schallig, vice president of membership and public relations Ryan Sullivan, secretary Wendy Sullivan, treasurer Dorothea Ferral and sergeant-at-arms Ryan Taft.
Knights of Columbus officers: Corvallis Council No. 1785 of the Knights of Columbus has elected officers for fraternal years 2012-13. Officers include Jerry Jackson, grand knight; Emmet Jones, deputy grand knight; Jeff Nielson, chancellor; Richard Paradis, financial secretary; Robert Rackham, recorder; Mark Wright, warden; Joseph Heaney, treasurer; Paul Hoffstadt, Doug Johnson and Gary Beck, trustees; Robert Kish, advocate; and Terry Gerding and Stephen Ndzeidze, guards.
New CSC directors: Dee Teem was recently named director of the Community Relations and Development department of Community Services Consortium. Teem has worked for three years as the consortium’s Workforce and Education Program advisor, and Stephanie Dee more recently as the development Leffler Teem officer. Teem also has served as interim development director as needed. She managed special development projects to locate and secure funding for the poverty-fighting programs offered by the consortium. Teem brings 15 years of experience in resource development to her new position. She has worked in fundraising and community development for several community organizations, including chief development officer of Greater Wyoming Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and recreation superintendent for the city of Newport. Stephanie Leffler, a certified human resource professional, joins CSC as human resource director. She was director of human resources at Allann Brothers Coffee/The Beanery Co. for nearly 10 years, after leaving Panolam Industries in Albany as its human resources manager. She has been on several local and human resources boards, including the Oregon State Council and the Lebanon School District Superintendent’s Advisory Board. She has volunteered on issues about educating youth on work force readiness.
Branch manager: US Bank has named Lisa Werner branch manager of its main office at 375 N.W. Monroe Ave. in Corvallis. As branch manager, Werner is responsible for leading the branch staff and managing all sales and customer service activities. Werner has worked for US Bank since 2003. Previously a sales and service manager, she brings nearly a decade of experience in the banking industry to her role as branch manager. Werner has a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University. She is involved in the Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis and United Way.
Chamber awards: Three awards were given at the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce’s annual Night with the Corvallis Knights event on June 14. Jay Peek and Kristen Scoggins each received an Ambassador of the Year award. The Volunteer of the Year award went to Becky Mutschler.